OCR Text |
Show activity of the basin. The provision of additional water for presently irrigated land will preserve that part of the resources base which is faced with cur- tailed production because of water shortage. De- velopments also will make possible expansion of this base. However, even taking into account the possible new developments, it is not considered likely that irrigation will provide support for more than 700,000 additional people in the Central Valley, including those indirectly dependent on farming activity. This may not be more than 10 percent of the actual population increase in California by the time construction of facilities and settlement have been completed. It is therefore evident that searching attention will have to be directed toward other means of supporting people, particularly in manufacturing. Industrial development in California has been concentrated largely in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, the latter of which is dependent in large measure on the hydroelectric power and the raw materials produced in the Central Valley. Further water resources development in the basin will help to support those areas. It also may be expected that industries will increase in the Central Valley itself. The trend already has started, and from a strategic point of view it should be en- couraged. Through increases in the agricultural and indus- trial potential of the region, large additions to population can be maintained, provided the planned development is pushed forward speedily. The capacity of the area for population increase is so great that extraordinary measures ultimately may be required if water development is allowed to lag. On the other hand, if water development pro- ceeds apace, California will assume an even more important role in the economic life of the Nation. California already has passed far beyond the stage of being one of the western "open spaces." In- tensive further strengthening of the weakest link in its resources chain-water-is vital in permitting the region to build further, and to avoid possible distress. Achieving Water Development Objectives Previous and present investigation of plans for use of water in the valley, starting with those of the State several decades ago and including current Federal and State studies, have given full con- sideration to the major present and ultimate needs of the area on a basin-wide basis, including prin- cipally irrigation, municipal and industrial water, flood control, navigation, and power. Other phases, such as recreation, fish and wildlife, water- shed management, and pollution control, have not received the same degree of attention, but there is a growing realization of the importance of these activities, with the result that they are beginning to assume a more appropriate place in planning. Interagency cooperation in the development of physical plans for the Central Valley generally has been carried on, although there is room for improvement. On some policy matters, equal co- ordination has not been possible. This has resulted from the fact that the State has opposed certain Federal water resources policies, and the further fact that the Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation, with the cooperation of other Federal agencies, are engaged in the planning, construction, and operation of similar and adjacent projects on the basis of differing basic legislation. Although much progress already has been made in the conservation and use of the water resources of the Central Valley Basin, and an extensive program is in progress, there are a number of problems which are tending to prevent most effective development. The following are considered to be important: 1. Conflicting views and interpretations of policies and legislation relating to the distribution of irrigation water from Federal projects need to be resolved. This general problem involves ques- tions such as the application of the acreage limita- tion provisions of the reclamation law, which Federal agency should negotiate irrigation repay- ment contracts, and negotiation of repayment con- tracts in advance of construction. 2. Recreation, fish and wildlife, watershed management, and mosquito and pollution control need to be brought more fully into the compre- hensive plans and assigned their proper place in the program. 3. A plan must be devised for integrating the operation of the projects of various agencies both physically and financially. 4. To the end that all elements of the program will advance together, procedures need to be estab- lished to permit increasingly effective participation by interested Federal, State, and local public and private groups in the planning, programing, financ- 157 |